Weather strip and sash balance



W agmmry 1 3 v M. J. GOSSEN 2,158,963

WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Fiied Jan. 6, 1938 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 o v 0 INVENTOR. MA/Pr/A (I 60632 ATTORNEY.

y 1939- M. .1. GOSSEN 2,158,963

WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Filed Jan. a; 1953 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm M 5 m M w m 2 u an igfimhwl I v PatentedMay 16, 19

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE amass I wanna s'rmr AND sasn namnca Martin J. (loosen, Whitefish Bay, WM Application January a. 1m, Serial No. mass 3 Claims. (01. 20-52) This invention is an improvement with respect to the combined window sash balance and weather strip construction disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,101,577 granted December 'I, 1937.

The objects of my present invention are as follows:

First, to provide the tubes which house or enclose the lifting elements for the sash with flanges 'which allow the tubes to be 'nailed or otherwise secured to the frame without inserting the fastening members through the tubes.

Second, to provide the upper ends of the lifting elements or coiled springs with attaching hooks or equivalent means for connection with the tubes so that the tubes and the lifting elements may be assembled with the sashes before placement in the window frame.

Third, to locate the nailing flanges at the bases -of the tubes and thus permit the balance and the weather strip combination to be secured to a frame without grooving the frame to accommodate the tubes as in my prior patent.

Fourth, to provide the sash with grooves to receive the tubes and thus allow the side walls of the tubes to be tensioned to frictionally engage the sash for holding it in any position of adjustment in the frame.

Fifth, to connect the lower ends of the. lifting elements to the sides of the sash inwardly of its seating railso that the anchoring means will not hinder tight closing of the sash or grooving of the rail along its full length for weather stripping or bring the lifting elements for the lower sash in particular to the bottom of the sashto be frozen to the window sill in the winter weather.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which 1 Fig. 1 is a fragmentary outer side view of a window frame and sashes equipped with the improved sash balance and weather strip devices of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view on a larger scale taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a sash and tubes in assembled relation prior to insertion into a window frame,

parts being shown brokenaway and in section respectively; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the tubes to be hereinafter described.

In the drawings, l indicates a window frame, and 2, 3 indicate, respectively, the upper and the lowersashes which are slidably mounted in the frame in the ordinary manner.

The improved sash balance and weather strip construction comprises tubes 4, 4 of spring bronze secured to the frame I, one at each side of each sash and extending into grooves 5, 5 therein to guide the sash in their sliding movement in the frame. It will be noted that the tubes 4 are secured directly to the outer sides of the side members or jambs 6, 6 of the frame, n o grooves being 10 required in the frame to accommodate the tubes as disclosed in my patent. This saves expense as grooving of the frame is not necessary and also less stock is required for the jambs. Also, the arrangement enables my improved sash balance 15 and weather strip device to be readily and easily applied to buildings already built. Hence, old buildings may be equipped with my improvement as no grooving of the frame is needed. This feature is an important one of my invention and 20 will be referred to later.

The tubes 4 and the associated parts to be presentlydescribed are similar in construction and use. Each tube is made from a single piece of spring bronze and is formed to have a pair of 25 side walls'l, I which extend into the groove 5 of the associated sash and engage the same to frictionally hold the sash in any position of adjustment in the frame. The side walls of each tube are integrally connected with the bottom 3 wall 8 of the tube by flange portions 9, 9 which extend exteriorly of the tube at the sides thereof and provide nailing or securing strips for the tube. Hence, the tubes may be secured to the frame I without nailing through the tubes or 35 having the nails within the tubes to interfere with the operation of the coiled lifting springs I0, I!) which are located in the tubes to counter-balance the sash. The flange portions 9 are in folded form and have rolled outer edges so that the nails 40 l I, I I when set against the flanges'will not crack or break the metal. The flanges 9 yieldingly press against the sides of the sash on opposite sides of the grooves 5 and aid in holding the sash against rattling in the frame. 45

The tubes 4 extend approximately the full height of the frame I at the sides of each sash and'thus provide guides for the sash in their slidihg movement. Also, the side walls I of the tubes provide weather stripping for the sash along 50 the full length of the frame. The flanges 9 filling the spaces between the frame and the sides of the sash aid in keeping out drafts. With the tubes 4 secured against the flat surfaces of the frame, the tubes provide the necessary channel-ways for 55 the parting strips l2 for the sash, as shown in Fig, 3. This saves expense and simplifies the construction because the frame does not require grooving for the parting strips. Also, only half the amount of parting strip stock is required. The extent of'divergence of the side walls l of the tubes may be regulated by pressing inwardly with a blunt tool at the juncture of the side walls 1 with the flanges 9, This enables the side walls 1 to be given the desired tension to hold the sash in place and serve their weather strip function. The junction referred to is indicated at a in Fig. 5 and the tool is indicated at b in dotted lines.

The tubes fit sufficiently close to the springs l0 through the tube and into the frame as in my patented device. The attaching element shown in the drawings comprises a hook-shaped member l3 disposed inside of the tube and made integral with the upper end of the spring. The anchor I 3 hooks over the rear wall 8 of the tube as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

Each tube is slotted throughout its length. The slot marked 14 is on the front side of the tube. The slot is formed betweeninwardly extending flanges l5, IS on the side walls 1 of the tube. The slot permits tensioning of the side walls I and also enables a fastening element l6 secured to the side of the sash to extend into the tube for connection with the lower end of the spring in. This part of the spring may be given loop or eye form as shown at IT to facilitate connection with the fastener Hi. It will be noted that the .fastener I6 is spaced from the seating rail N3 of the sash and thus does not prevent the sash closing tightly against the frame. For the lower sash the fastener I6 is above the seating rail, while for the upper sash the fastener I6 is below the seating rail. Being so disposed, the connection for the sash to the spring does not extend over the seating surface and the latter may be grooved for weather stripping without hindrance by any spring fastening means. Also, the grooving may extend the full length of the y sash rail. Another advantage of the arrangement disclosed is that the springs, especially for the lower sash, do not come down to the bottom of the sash and thus can not be frozen to the window sill when frost or ice collects in the winter. This saves expense as spring breakage from this cause is eliminated. This is also important as no metal is on the seating surface of the'sash for ice to collect.

In the standard window constructions, the jambs '6 are flush with the inside trim as indicated at IS in Fig. 3. The inside stop 20 is se cured to the jamb over this trim. To apply my device to these windows, the inside stops are I taken off and the sashes are removed and then grooved to receive the tubes 4. The sash ropes and weights are removed from the window boxes at the sides of the frame. These boxes are marked 2| in Fig. 3. The pulleys are also removed from the upper ends ofthe frame and the boxes may be filled with insulation material.

springs are connected to the anchors l6 before the assembly is placed in the frame. The outer sash is applied first, the tubes being nailed in the channel-ways already provided in the frame by the parting strips. For new work, the tubes, that is, the opposed flanges 9 providethe channels for the parting strips, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the tubes close the pulley slots and with the weight boxes filled drafts are kept out.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube 4 for the upper sash 2 terminates short of the window sill 22, while the tube for the lower sash terminates short of the top section 23 of the frame. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable a spring to be inserted in either tube, should a spring already in the tube break, without removing the sash from the frame. With the nails ll exterior of the tube 4, access may be readily had to them in case removal of the tube is desired at any time.

Any desired form of automatically acting lifting elements may be used in the tubes. I do not wish to be limited to coiled springs in this regard. The flanges 9 are important in that these flanges provide exterior nailing strips for the tubes. The sashes slide easier because they do not rub against wood. With light weight windows, the tubes 4 may be used without lifting elements as the side walls I of the tubes will hold the windows in any position in the frame, making a counter-balance unnecessary. The construction shown and described is simple, effective and easy and inexpensive to apply, both as to new and old work.

The details of construction and arrangement of parts depicted herein may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, except as pointed out in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

.1. In combination, a window frame, 'a sashly spaced side walls, the side walls of the tubes being free of the frame and extending into grooves in the adjacent side portions of the sash,

said side walls having a spring tension connection with their-bottom Walls so that the side walls may press laterally against the sash within the grooves to'frictionally hold the sashin any position of adjustment within the frame, flange formations along the side walls within the grooves, said flanges extending inwardly from the the side walls and terminating short of each other between the side walls to provide slots along the tubes within the grooves, and coiled lifting springs located within the tubes and fixed at one end as to the tubes and connected at their other ends to the sash through the slots in the tubes, said flanges extending over the springs and retaining the same within the tubes in all positions of adjustment of the sash within the frame.

2. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, tubes having grooves to frictionally hold the sash in any posi tion of adjustment within the frame, means carried by the tubes at the sides thereof whereby the tubes may be secured to the frame laterally and exteriorly of their side walls, flange formations along the side walls within the grooves, said flanges extending inwardly from the side walls and terminating short of each other between the side walls to provide slots along the tubes within the grooves, and coiled lifting springs located within the tubes and having one end flxed as to the tubes and their other ends connected to the sash through the slots in the tubes, said flanges extending over the springs and retaining the same within the tubes in all positions of adjustment of the sash within the frame.

3. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, tubes located within the frame at the sides of the sash and each tube having a bottom wall and laterally spaced side walls, the side walls of the tubes being free of the frame and extending into grooves in the adjacent side portions of the sash, said tubes being constituted of spring tension sheet material so that the side walls may press laterally against the sash within the grooves to frictionally hold the sash in any position of adjustment within the frame, flange formations along the inner and the outer margins of said side walls, the flanges at the inner margins of the side walls connecting said side walls to the bottom walls and extending laterally outward therefrom whereby the tubes may be secured to the frame exteriorly of their side walls, the other flanges extending inwardly from the side walls and terminating short of each other between the side walls to provide slots along the tubes within the grooves, and coiled lifting springs located within the tubes and fixed at one end as to the tubes and connected at their other ends to the sash through the slots in the tubes, said last named flanges extending over the springs and retaining the same within the tubes in all positions of adjustment of the sash within the frame.

4. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, tubes located within the frame at the sides of the sash and each tube having a bottom wall and laterally spaced side walls, the side walls of the tubes being free of the frame and extending into grooves in the adjacent side portions of the sash, said tubes being constituted of spring tension sheet material so that the side walls may press laterally against the sash within the grooves to frictionally hold the sash in any position of adjustment within the frame, flange formations along the inner and the outer margins of said side walls, the flanges at the inner margins of the side walls being lateral extensions of the bottom walls with return bend connections to the side walls to provide folded strips along the sides of the tubes whereby the tubes may be secured to the frame laterally and exteriorly of their side walls, the other flanges extending inwardly from the side walls and terminating short of each other between the side walls to provide slots along the tubes within the grooves, and coiled lifting springs located within the tubes and secured at one end, to the tubes and at their other ends to the sash through the slots in the tubes. said last named flanges extending overthe springs and retaining the same within the tubes in all positions of adjustment of the sash within the frame.

5. A combined sash balance and weather strip device, comprising a tubular member constituted of a single piece of spring tension sheet material formed to have a bottom wall, laterally spaced side walls, and flange formations along the inner and the outer margins of said side walls, the flange formations along the inner margins of the side walls integrally connecting the side walls to the bottom wall and extending laterally beyond said side walls to provide securing strips along the sides of the member, the flange formations along the outer margins of the side walls being integrally connected-to said walls and extending inwardly therefrom and terminating short of each other between said side walls to provide a slot along the member opposite the bottom wall, and a coiled lifting spring located with-' in the tubular member and retained therein by the last named flanges, said spring being connected at one end to the tubular member and having its other end available for connection with a sash through the slot in the tubular member.

6. A combined sash balance and weather strip device, comprising an elongated tube having bottom and side walls, said side walls extending from one side of the bottom wall for entry into a groove in the adjacent side portion of a window sash, flange formations along the inner and the outer margins of said side walls, the flanges at the inner margins of the side walls connectin the bottom wall to the side walls, the other flanges extending inwardly from the side walls and terminating short of each other between the side walls to provide a slot along the tube opposite its bottom wall, and a coiled lifting spring located within the tube and having one end connected to the tube and the other end available for connection with the sash through the slot in the tube, said spring being retained within the tube by said last named flanges and said tube being constituted of spring tension sheet material to yieldably engage the sash within the groove so that the tube and the spring in assembled relation may be applied to the sub before insertion of the latter into its frame, the flanges at the inner margins of the side walls extending laterally outwardly from said side walls and providing securing strips along the sides of the tubes so that the tubes may besecured to the frame along the sides of the tube following the insertion of the sash into the frame.

7. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, tubes located within the frame at the sides of the sash and each tube having a bottom wall and laterally spaced side walls, the side walls of the tubes being free of the frame and extending into grooves in the adjacent side portions of the sash, said tubes being constituted of spring tension sheet material so that the side walls may press laterally against the sash within the grooves to frictionally hold the sash in any position of adjustment within the frame, flange formations along the inner margins of said side walls and being lateral extensions of the bottom walls with return bend connections to the side walls to provide folded strips along the sides of the tubes whereby the tubes may be secured to the framelaterally and exteriorly of their side walls, and spring actuated lifting elements located within the tubes andat their other ends to the sash through slots provided in the tubes along the outer margins of the side walls. I

8. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, tubes located within the frame at the sides of the sash and extending substantially the full length of the frame, each tube having a bottom wall and laterally spaced side walls and a slot extending along the tube between the side walls opposite the bottom wall, the side walls of the tubes being free of the frame and extendihg into grooves in the adjacent side portions of the sash, said tubes being constituted of spring tension sheet material so that at least one of the side walls of each tube may be tensioned to press laterally against the sash within the associated grooves to develop the frictional resistance desired to hold the sash in any of its adjusted positions within the frame,

flange formations along the inner margins of the side walls of each tube and having direct integral connection with the associated bottom walls to provide strips along the tubes beyond the side Walls, whereby the tubes may be secured to the frame laterally and exteriorly of their side walls and allow for flexing of the side walls independently of the attachment of the tubes to the frame,

and spring actuated sash lifting elements located within the tubes and fixed at one end as to the tubes and connected at their other ends to the sash through the slots in the tubes.

MARTIN J. GOSSEN.

Disclaimer 2,158,963.Mart'ln J. Gossen, Whitefish Bay, Wis. WEATHER STRIP AND SAsH BALANCE. Patent dated May 16, 1939. Disclaimer filed Apr. 6, 1949, by the inventor. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette May 10, 1.949.] 

